Custom Drapery

(Go To Custom Items Main Page)

Musson can help you with all your custom distribution, drapery and gobo needs. Below you will find information to guide you in selecting the right drape for your application. Once you have identified the drapes you would like made, please proceed to the quotation generator. Our system will guide you though selecting your drapes and we will usually be able to furnish a quote within one business day.

Proceed to the Custom Drape Quotation Generator >>

FABRIC SELECTION
All custom drapes are made with fabrics that are either treated with flame retardant or are inherently flame retardant.

COTTON VELOURS - Most commonly used to create Main Drapes and Valances. Also applicable for masking drapes such as Legs and Borders.

SYNTHETIC VELOURS - Most commonly used for Legs and Borders. Also applicable for Main Drapes and Valances.

COMMANDO CLOTH - Most commonly used for Legs and Borders. Also great for pipe and drape applications.

DUVATYNE - Most commonly used for Legs and Borders. Also great for pipe and drape applications.

MUSLIN - Most commonly used for Cycloramas and Painted Backdrops. Can be ordered seamless or with vertical or horizontal seams.

SHARKSTOOTH SCRIM - Used to create scrims. When properly lit from the front, it will appear opaque. When properly lit from the back, it becomes transluscent and reveals the scene.

LENO FILLED SCRIM - Most commonly used for Cycloramas.

POLYCYC - Most commonly used for special events. Takes light very well.

CHIFFON - A very lightweight fabric most commonly used for Act Curtains. Takes light very well.

TYPE OF DRAPE

MAIN BIPARTING PAIR OR GRAND DRAPE - The Grand Drape hangs just upstage of the proscenium arch. It opens and closes in the center and usually has an overlap in the center of 18" - 24". Biparting pairs are measured from the very top to the bottom and across the top from side to side for each panel. Main drapes are usually made from 21oz, 25oz, or 32oz cotton velour in an attractive color suited to the architectural design of the theatre. Use our color selection page to choose your color. A sample of the actual color can be sent to you prior to order. In most cases we recommend 25oz velour. A main biparting pair will always have pleated fullness, and we recommend 50% on average. If you are in need of a new track as well, remember to calculate stacking space in the size of your drape. Stacking space is the amount of space occupied by the curtain in its open position. Allow a minimum of 2" of stacking space per foot of drape width. If you want the curtain to be completely hidden behind the proscenium when open, you will need to allow enough space in the wings. For instance, if you have two biparting pair panels that are each 15'0" wide, you will need at least 30" off stage for the drape to stack. For a biparting pair, we recommend H&H 200 Series or 400 Series track, depending on the weight of the drape. Musson will be happy to assist you in selecting a track.

MAIN VALANCE - The Main Valance hangs directly behind the proscenium arch and in front of the Grand Drape to mask the ceiling and track hardware. A Valance is measured from the very top to the bottom and across the top from side to side, and should exceed the width of the proscenium arch by at least 1' on each side. A main valance is usually made from 21oz, 25oz, or 32oz cotton velour to match the Grand Drape. In most cases we recommend 25oz velour. A main valance should always have pleated fullness, and we recommend 50% on average. In the best case, a valance will be tied to a pipe and will need grommets and ties at the top. Often, a valance is stapled or nailed directly to the rear of a proscenium arch and will only require reinforced webbing at the top. If your valance is attached to a rigging line that goes up and down, you will want a chain pocket sewn in the bottom to prevent the drape from blowing around and catching on other scenery. If your drape is dead hung and does not fly in and out, you will simply need a 3" - 6" hem at the bottom.

LEGS - Legs are also often called tormentors and are vertical panels suspended from pipes or tracks on the sides of the stage to mask the back and side stage areas. Legs are measured from the very top to the bottom and across the top from side to side. As masking drapes, these are black and are usually made from 21oz or 25oz cotton velour, from a synthetic velour such as Encore or Volcano, or more economically, from Commando Cloth. A sample of the fabric can be sent to you prior to order. Legs will either be sewn flat or have pleated fullness. We recommend 50% fullness on average. Legs are most frequently tied to pipes on pivot devices, so you will need grommets and ties at the top. On occaision, legs are attached to tracks and will require grommets and curtain snaps at the top. You will want a chain pocket sewn in the bottom to prevent the drape from blowing around and to help it hang straight.

BORDERS - Borders are also often called teasers and suspend from pipes above the stage to mask the ceiling, lights, and track hardware. Borders are measured from the very top to the bottom and across the top from side to side. As masking drapes, these are black and are usually made from 21oz or 25oz cotton velour, from a synthetic velour such as Encore or Volcano, or more economically, from Commando Cloth. A sample of the fabric can be sent to you prior to order. Borders will either be sewn flat or have pleated fullness. We recommend 50% fullness on average. Borders are tied to pipes and will need grommets and ties at the top. If your border is attached to a rigging line that goes up and down, you will want a chain pocket sewn in the bottom to prevent the drape from blowing around and catching on other scenery. If your drape is dead hung and does not fly in and out, you will simply need a 3" - 6" hem at the bottom.

UPSTAGE OR MIDSTAGE TRAVELER - The upstage and midstage travelers can be either biparting pairs or draw all the way to one side. This is called One-Way Draw. Biparting pairs open and close in the center and usually have an overlap in the center of 18" - 24". Both drapes are measured from the very top to the bottom and across the top from side to side for each panel. As masking drapes, these are black and are usually made from 21oz or 25oz cotton velour, from a synthetic velour such as Encore or Volcano, or more economically, from Commando Cloth. A sample of the fabric can be sent to you prior to order. Travelers are generally sewn with pleated fullness, and we recommend 50% on average. However, these drapes are also available sewn flat with no fullness. If you are in need of a new track as well, we recommend H&H 200 Series or 400 Series track, depending on the weight of the drape. Musson will be happy to assist you in selecting a track.

CYCLORAMA - The cyclorama is usually the drape that hangs farthest upstage. It is designed to be a reflective surface for light. This is how we create the effect of the sky while in the theatre. It is also often used for image projection with gobos. Cycloramas are measured from the very top to the bottom and across the top from side to side. They are generally made from either muslin or Leno filled scrim in natural, bleached white, or sky blue. Leno filled scrims are always seamless. Muslin cycloramas can be seamless or seamed. We recommend vertical seams for strength and longevity. However, horizontal seams are also available. Most commonly, a cyclorama will be tied to a pipe, so you will need grommets and ties across the top as well as a pocket for an additional pipe to be inserted in the bottom. If no fly space is available, a cyclorama will occasionally run on a one-way draw curtain track. In this case, you will want grommets and curtain snaps across the top, and a chain pocket sewn into the bottom. Cycloramas are frequently curved. If you need a curved track, we generally recommend the H&H 300 series track. For a straight cyclorama, we recommend H&H 200 series track. Musson will be happy to assist you in selecting a track.

BACKDROP - A Backdrop is very like a cyclorama, but is designed to be painted with a scene. Backdrops are measured from the very top to the bottom and across the top from side to side. They are generally made from natural muslin. Muslin drops can be seamless or seamed. We recommend vertical seams for strength and longevity. However, horizontal seams are also available. Most commonly, a drop will be tied to a pipe, so you will need grommets and ties across the top as well as a pocket for an additional pipe to be inserted in the bottom. If no fly space is available, a drop will occasionally run on a one-way draw curtain track. In this case, you will want grommets and curtain snaps across the top, and a chain pocket sewn into the bottom. Musson will be happy to assist you in selecting a track.

SCRIM - The Scrim has unique capabilities. It has a rectangular weave and is designed so that if properly lit from the front, it will appear to be opaque. but if properly lit from behind, it will become transparent. A scrim can be painted or dyed to become a very dynamic piece of scenery. But beware! You must have the proper lighting conditions to make this work. Scrimss are measured from the very top to the bottom and across the top from side to side. They are generally made from Sharkstooth Scrim in black, white, or sky blue. Sharkstooth scrims are always seamless. Most commonly, a scrim will be tied to a pipe, so you will need grommets and ties across the top as well as a pocket for an additional pipe to be inserted in the bottom. If no fly space is available, a scrim will occasionally run on a one-way draw curtain track. In this case, you will want grommets and curtain snaps across the top, and a chain pocket sewn into the bottom. Musson will be happy to assist you in selecting a track.

ACT CURTAIN - The Act Curtain can be as simple as a traveler like those described above, or it can be much flashier. Act curtains can often be made from fabrics such as chiffon, slit drape, LED or Fiberoptics drapes, or many other fabrics. Let us know what you are dreaming, and we will assist you in creating the right custom drape for your production.